Secretary of State John H. Merrill
MONTGOMERY – On Thursday Secretary Merrill released a statement regarding a meeting held on Wednesday with Governor Robert Bentley, Reverend Jesse Jackson and several other state lawmakers to address DMV closures.
“We felt as though we had a productive meeting with Reverend Jackson, several state legislators and other elected officials from across the Black Belt area,” said Secretary Merrill. “Upon presenting the following information to them, all in attendance agreed that Alabama does not have a photo ID concern.”
“The state of Alabama has 4,849,377 citizens, according to the census numbers, as of July 1, 2014. Of those 4.8 million people, 2,998,969, are either active or inactive voters (total active 2,841,676). According to the 
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, as of October 1, 2015, Alabama has 3,559,235 million citizens with a driver’s license and 750,063 with a non-driver ID card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. In addition, all 67 counties have a Probate Judge’s office which will renew driver’s license and a Board of Registrars’ office which issues a free photo ID to all qualified applicants. These offices are open any day of the week that the courthouse is open.”
“Governor Bentley assured those in the meeting that he would work with those present and others regarding their concerns about driver’s license locations throughout rural Alabama, as well as other issues they introduced to him for his consideration.”
media release/office of Secretary John Merrill
